Off the beaten path Budapest: The most typical and the most unique baths

Looking into the off the beaten path Budapest? Interested in finding the most unique baths in the city of Spa’s? Well, continue reading.

A few years back, I decided to give myself an especial birthday present and I booked a ticket to Budapest. With the intention of only spending four days there, I wanted to visit some of the most typical sights, but also discover the off the beaten path Budapest. In the future, more dedicated posts about these hidden gems will be posted, but in this one, I will focus on some of the best things in Budapest: the baths.

Every year, thousand of people visit the named “City of Spa’s” to benefit from their water and Spas. This is all you need to know about Spas in the most off the beaten path Budapest as well as the most popular and touristy ones.

Why are there baths in Budapest

Budapest was originally founded by the Romans on top of a previous Celtic settlement. Originally known was Aquincum, over the centuries, this small town has been conquered and owned by many different empires. From the Ottoman people to the Prussians. But over these centuries there has always been a constant: the thermal baths.

Every day, millions of liters of water are naturally pumped from the earth to Budapest. This water, rich in minerals and salts, is supposed to be beneficial to treat many illnesses. From psoriasis to joint and bone problems. For this reason, over the years, the centuries, more Spas and thermal baths started to appear around the area that is today the city. And I phrase it like that because Budapest is actually the result of the merging of three cities back in the 19^th century.

What to bring to a Spa in Budapest

All baths in Budapest require that you wear a swimsuit. At all times. Another thing you should carry would be flip flops (or thongs, for you aussies), and a towel.  I would recommend you to bring one of the small microfiber towels that weight nothing. You could also rent them locally. While in most cases you will not be putting your head in the water, it is also nice to have a long shower to get rid of all the salts that will accumulate in your skin. So in summary, bring also body soap and a nice shampoo.

What are the Thermal Baths of Budapest

From the most typical and touristy to the off the beaten path Budapest, today, there are 9 main baths in Budapest. Six of them, located along the Danube, the seventh, in a park a bit further away. The most well known of this, is the one in the park: the Széchenyi Thermal Baths. The other ones are: Gellért Thermal Bath, Rudas Baths, Király Thermal Baths, Lukacs Bath, Irgalmasok Veli Bej Bath, Palatinus Strand Baths and, finally, Dagály Thermal Baths.

The most typical and well-known bath in Budapest: Széchenyi Thermal Baths

When people think of the baths in Budapest, they often think of Széchenyi Thermal Baths. These are located relatively near the Heroes Square and are one of the most typical landscapes of the city. Built in the early 20^th century, these baths are located around a baroque-like palace of a very untasteful yellow.

You can access these baths from six in the morning until ten in the evening. Since these are mixed gender baths, it could be romantic for you to be there at sunset. Or if you dare, at sunrise too. That is up to you.

The baths, as most in Budapest, are quite warm, so, even though they are outdoors, the contrast between the cold outside and the warm of the weather is quite nice. Of course, that is if you visit during the winter.

I did not love the installations as they were mostly gym-like. Expect a locker and very soviet-like vibes inside the building. High ceilings, wide corridors and a very cold environment. Not only building wise, but also from the staff.

On the other end: off the beaten path Budapest: Rudas Baths

In the other end of the spectrum we have Rudas Baths. This bath was founded during the 16^th century, when the current Budapest was under the ruling of the Ottomans. Or as they are currently known, the Turkish empire. The differences between Rudas and Széchenyi are abysmal.

Rudas Bath is located in the base of Pest. If you walk from Buda until Pest, crossing the Danube by the Elisabeth Bridge, you will see it from there. It looks like a mushroom with some small holes on the top. These baths are a window to an older time.

The winner

Within the premises of this bath, you can find different areas to relax. As soon as you enter this building you will find yourself in your own small cabinet. There you can leave all your clothes and equipment. It will be yours all the time you spend at Rudas. After that, you will pass through an area where you can just sit and relax under some heating. Crossing a small pool to disinfect your feet and flip flops, you will then find yourself in the proper baths. This room comprises one big poligonal pool at 36ºC (97ºF). Then, around it, there are four additional smaller pools at 42ºC (108ºF), 33ºC (91ºF), 30ºC (86ºF) and 28ºC (82ºF). In another separated area, there is also a smaller pool at 16ºC (60ºF). Or what is the same, extremely cold.

Interested in other luxurious experiences besides the best baths in the off the beaten path Budapest? Check out my stay at the Fairmont Banff, a castle in the middle of the Canadian Rockies with its own open air pool!

Around the main area of Rudas, there are also other amenities besides the baths. There are two buckets of water that you can fill, position yourself underneath and then drop on your head. This water is usually pretty cold and, although I did not dare doing this, let me know if you did. Then, there are two additional saunas: a wet one and a dry one. Both saunas comprise two different sections at different temperatures ranging between 50 and 70ºC (120-160ºF).

Although I did not visit them myself, there is also an additional rooftop bathtub.

The vintage baths in Budapest: Gellért Spa

Even though this may not be the most common off the beaten path Budapest, In these lovely baths, you can find one indoor bath and pool. Both of these are mixed. The bath is within the “art noveau” hall, while the pool is on the palace. They are both unique and special on its own way. In addition to these, Gellért Spa also has one outdoor wave pool at 26ºC (79ºF).

Other commodities of Gellért are a hotel, spa, hairdressers, sunbeds, steam baths, saunas and a beauty salon. Additionally, you can also opt-in for a massage or some other therapies.

Other less known off-the-beaten path baths in Budapest

These are some of the less-known baths and spas that you can find in Budapest. Some of them are just the combination of some saunas or steam chambers. Others are closer to a waterpark. In any case, most of them are off the beaten path and packed with locals. If you are looking for the real deal, these are good options.

Palatinus Strand baths

From this point on is where you can find the best baths in the off the beaten path Budapest. These baths are located on an island in the middle of the Danube: Margaret Island. Slightly Nord from the city center, but still reachable by public transportation.

This complex is an open-air “aquatic center” with some indoors facilities. The complex is very much tailored to families and children. There are over eleven different pools, some indoors and some outdoors. Like most centers in Budapest, there you will also find saunas, and hydrotherapy pools. In addition, in the outdoor areas there are also some slides to charm your inner child.

Király baths

Hidden in the off the beaten path Budapest, there is this Spa. Very close to the southernmost area of Margaret island are the Kiraly Thermal Baths. This relic left by the Ottoman also dates back to the 16^th century. Its structure is similar to Rudas but much smaller and with less pools. Even though from the outside it seems as if the building were to fall at any given moment, the facilities are actually quite nice. Expect, as per usual, saunas and hot chambers along with a central heated pool.

Lukacs baths

These hot springs were used already in the 12^th century by the Hospitaller Knights of the order of St John. Although they were abandoned during the period when Budapest was ruled by the Ottomans, in the early 19^th century, the Lukacks baths were purchased and its water sold as a cure-it-all. Soon after that, the owner decided to restore and open another bath in the city following the trends of the moment.

Today, there is one big outdoors pool where the original pool was placed. Also, there is a spa-hotel with hydrotherapy facilities and currently, one day hospital for the treatment of traumatic injuries or rheumatoid arthritis. Another curiosity of this bath are the tablets of gratitude. These are marble tablets donated by guests who wanted to thank Lukacks baths for they recovery. Even though many of them are very old, the vast majority of the original ones were destroyed or stolen during World War II.

Dagaly Baths

I thikn these could be considered off the beaten path Budapest for us tourists but not for the locals. These baths are the largest ones in the Pest area (aka, the easternmost part of Budapest after the Danube). They were built soon after the end of World War II and, today, its waters derive from the same spring that the Széchenyi Thermal Baths. There are more than 10 different pools in the complex. From wave pools to children and teaching areas, these are the perfect baths to visit with a full family. Expect animals and slides in different sections that will delight children.

Romai Beach Baths

This park is in Buda, a bit North Margaret Island and in the riverside of the Danube. Romai beach park may seem off-the-beaten path Budapest for us tourists but not for the locals. This is mostly a waterpark where you will find slides, pirates and a few kinda Roman buildings. Not a lot of history but if you want to have some fun… why not.

Dandar Baths

These baths are some of the least popular ones among tourists visiting Budapest. You could say that they are part of the off the beaten path Budapest, although they are a great alternative. Within the complex or Dandar Thermal Baths, you will find three different pools at different temperatures, a sauna and some ice facilities. Outside, there are also a couple of pools but nothing out of the ordinary. Expect the place to be mostly frequented by locals and the lost tourist.

Irgalmasok Veli Bej Baths

These are some of the oldest baths in Budapest, located next to Lukacs Baths, and also one of the best rated. They are not very big, but they were recently restored and they are kept clean. Very similar to Rudas, the main attraction of these baths are the central octagonal pool surrounded by other smaller ones (four of them, at different temperatures).

Attached there is a hotel and a Spa offering from Finnish sauna to Jacuzzis or massages. Interestingly, these baths were also built by the Ottomans a few centuries ago, but later on they were “inherited” by the Hospitaller Knights. This complex also does not have any outdoor facilities.

Off-the beaten path in Budapest: Spartying

Finally, there is an option for those looking for the off the beaten path Budapest: Spartying. This concoction of a word comes from partying in a spa. And this is exactly what it is, at night, from 10 to 3am, there are some Spas around the city that become clubs. Lately they have been mostly located at Széchenyi Baths, although you can check the specific locations following this link.

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